Travel with me - BALI, Island of Gods

Hello my beautiful Steemit friends! :) I would like to take you along with me to one of my most favourite places in the world which I call my home for the last year - Bali. It is knows as the Island of Gods.

I discovered Bali many years ago and was blown away by its beauty and powerful energy, I kept on coming back every year and stay there for a couple of months, now I live there for most of the year. It feels like a home to me and it's a very special place for me because of countless reasons.

In this blog I will share with you some of my favourite things about the place I have been residing in Bali - Ubud. Ubud is a town knows as a spiritual and artistic capital of Bali, especially after the famous book and movie by Elizabeth Gilbert - "Eat, Pray, Love".

Ubud in Balinese means 'healing', and indeed there's many traditional Balinese healers, many amazing yoga studios, detox and relaxation centres, many beautiful health orientated restaurants. I fell in love with this town, its people, the food, and the overall sense of serenity and sacredness that exudes from just about everywhere.

There's a very powerful presence of spiritual energy as the local people perform ceremonies daily and there's a temple in every Balinese home. Ubud is so magical, I hope the following highlights will give you a good idea of its beauty and why I live there for most of the year now.

Firstly, wherever you go in Ubud you will notice fresh flower offerings, mandalas,burning incents, altars, statues of gods and goddesses, it feels completely enchanted!

There's so many temples and sacred sites in Ubud and in it's outer surroundings. Here's some of my favourite.

Goa Gajah is locally known as the Elephant Cave because of its close proximity to the Elephant River. A mysterious cave and ancient bathing pools set among green rice paddies and a beautiful gardenery.

There's a very powerful ancestral healing energy present on this spectacular site.

Another reason I love Ubud is because it's a food heaven! It has a huge variety of amazing restaurants and cafes with different cuisines, I love that it's all mostly health orientated. I have been vegan for 6 years and it's a complete plant-based heaven. Some of my favourites are 'Moksa', 'Alchemy', 'Sayuri', 'Seed of Life' just to name a few.

I love the amazing nature in Ubud, especially in outskirts of Ubud, there's a wild jungle and lush green rice fields everywhere.

One of my favourite nature spots in Ubud is Tegenungan waterfall. It's located amongst spectacular greenery.

Admire the foaming water and lush green surroundings at Tegenungan Waterfall, swim under the fall for a powerful massage, or climb onto the wide ledge halfway up the cliff for a close-up view of the waterfall.

Another one of my favourite things to do in Bali is to indulge in a traditional Balinese massage.

Spas are probably the most abundant of businesses in Ubud and you should take full advantage of it like I did! :)

With prices hovering around $9-12 for an hour of Balinese massage to $25 for a 2 hours extravaganza of massage-scrub-floral bath, there is absolutely no shame in booking one every day and trying a different one each time.

You can't leave Bali without visiting the Mt. Batur volcano.

It's the most active volcano in Bali, its last eruption was recorded in 2000. The peak sits at 1717 meters (5,633 ft.) above sea level and offers breathtaking views of Lake Batur, black lava from the last explosion, and surrounding mountains.

It's an amazing place and it's the most spectacular at sunrise!

I hope you been inspired by Bali's magic, beautiful surroundings and gracious way of life!

Long after you depart, Bali will illuminate your soul with the knowledge of simpler, almost timeless existence filled with beauty and serenity.

Much love and safe travels, Ilze xo

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